Cologne, Germany — Food and Dining
Restaurants in Cologne, Germany
Restaurants
Expensive
La Vision
Come here for a special occasion on a summer night to savour Michelin-starred classical French and Mediterranean gourmet cuisine on the 11th-floor roof terrace with a great view over Cologne.
Hotel im Wasserturm, Kaygasse 2
Tel: (0221) 20080.
Website: www.hotel-im-wasserturm.de
Moderate
Em Krützche
At Em Krützche, set in a 16th-century house on the river in the Altstadt, you can eat in the same traditional panelled dining room in which Bill Clinton and Tony Blair enjoyed the excellent local and regional cooking.
Frankenturm 1-3
Tel: (0221) 258 0839.
Website: www.emkruetzche.de
Haxenhaus Zum Rheingarten
This 800-year-old beautifully converted medieval hall-like house in the heart of the Atltstadt offers typical hearty Cologne cooking with homemade Bratwurst and pork specialties.
Frankenwerft 19
Tel: (0221) 947 2400.
Website: www.haxenhaus.de
Cheap
Brauhaus Sion
Eat in the restaurant section of this traditional wooden-panelled brauhaus sampling hearty local Cologne specialties such as reibekuchen (potato pancakes) and sauerbraten (beef marinated in vinegar).
Untertaschenmacher 5-7
Tel: (0221) 257 8540.
Website: www.brauhaus-sion.de
Wackes
Long established cosy rustic little weinstube (inn) with gingham table clothes and beams, serving Alsatian dishes, specializing in flammkuchen (the Alsatian take on pizza).
Benesisstrasse 59
Tel: (0221) 257 3456.
Website: www.wackes-weinstube.de
Nightlife
Many visitors are content to while away most of the evening drinking kölsch (the famous local beer) in one or more of Cologne's many brewhouses (singular, brauhaus), which resemble something between a bierkeller (beer cellar) and a traditional British pub. Nightclubs and style bars are dispersed around the town. Look in the Altstadt around Buttermarkt and Salzgasse, or go a little further out to the Belgische Viertel, between Rudolfsplatz and Friesenplatz, where you will find the biggest concentration of fashionable places to drink and eat. Other good places are the Univiertel (University Quarter) around Barbarossa Platz and Zülpicher Platz.
Bars
Brauhaus Peters
Brauhaus Peters is the most attractive brauhaus in Cologne, with six lovely rooms (the glass-domed art nouveau style is the most popular) serving good food and great beer.
Mühlengasse 1
Tel: (0221) 257 3950.
Website: www.peters-brauhaus.de
Früh am Dom
Früh am Dom is another classic labyrinthine brauhaus in Cologne, where sooner or later everyone ends up - it's always busy but still manages to provide excellent service and top quality food (try the Braühaustopf).
Am Hof 12-18
Tel: (0221) 261 3211.
Website: www.frueh.de
Rosebud
Rosebud is a long-established cocktail bar and is still the place to see and be seen in Cologne - excellent jazz-inspired music is worth the detour.
Heinsbergstrasse 20
Tel: (0221) 240 1455.
Website: www.rosebud.de
Clubs
Alter Wartesaal
Alter Wartesaal, set in a former waiting room in the vaults beneath Cologne's Hauptbahnhof (central station), has been beautifully converted into a very popular club which hosts mostly house, soul and techno nights.
11 Johannisstrasse
Tel: (0221) 912 8850.
Website: www.wartesaal.de
Studio 672
Studio 672 is located in Stadtgarten, a multi-function venue which also serves as a concert hall and café-restaurant. The music is techno, reggae and dancehall.
Venloer Strasse 40
Tel: (0221) 952 9940.
Website: www.stadtgarten.de
Live Music
LANXESS arena
The largest multifunction hall in Germany, LANXESS arena has hosted the likes of Pavarotti, Eric Clapton, Elton John and Rod Stewart.
Willy Brandt Platz 3
Tel: (0221) 8021.
Website: www.koelnarena.de
Papa Joe's Jazzlokal
Small pokey and always buzzing, Papa Joe's Jazzlokal is one of the oldest jazz clubs in Germany with traditional and swing bands playing every night and Sunday afternoon.
Buttermarkt 37
Tel: (0221) 257 7931.
Website: www.papajoes.de
Stadtgarten
Stadtgarten is an excellent multi-function venue which serves as a concert hall (regular jazz, latin and other sounds), nightclub (Studio 672 - techno, reggae and dancehall) and café-restaurant. In summer, it is also the most popular beer garden in Cologne.
Venloer Strasse 40
Tel: (0221) 952 9940.
Website: www.stadtgarten.de
